Deontay Wilder: I’ll end Anthony Joshua’s career

The verbal sparring between heavyweight boxing’s best fighters is still going strong with Deontay Wilder vowing to “end” Anthony Joshua’s career.

WBC champion Wilder retained his belt earlier this month with a first-round knockout of Bermane Stiverne in New York. Immediately after the sixth defence of the WBC belt, Wilder called out Joshua by declaring “war” on the British boxer.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on 10 November there was “no question” the two would fight next year. Today Wilder has ramped up the war of words in an interview with ESPN.

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Wilder, who has a 39-0 record with 38 knockouts, said: “Joshua, let’s make this fight happen man. This is one of the biggest, most exciting fights in the world history. We could make records, we could set history on the time of the fight whenever it happens.

“I’m ready, I don’t know about you. You’ve had it easy, it’s been breezy for you.

“You’re ready to fight low opposition and get paid millions of dollars and you don’t want that gravy train to end, but I am the man that’s going to end your career.”

Meanwhile, IBF and WBA champion Joshua has warned Wilder that the American should be more “realistic” with his demands if they are to fight next year.

Talks have begun between the two camps and Joshua told Dubai Eye 108.3: “I am not in the business of making promises that I can’t fulfil. I am working on getting this fight done.

“Providing Deontay Wilder is true to his word this fight will happen in 2018.

“It is simple business. We have worked with all-time greats like [Wladimir] Klitschko. We have managed to defend this title five times.

“If they are realistic about what they want, we can definitely make this fight happen.”